Articles

Reader Questions – Our CC&Rs Expired; Ours Has No Name! Feb 01, 2021


Kelly, do you have any information regarding the expiration of CC&Rs? I’ve heard 20 years from the time of the recorded filing of the CC&Rs. My subdivision...

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Shorter Meetings are BETTER Jan 17, 2021

It may not shock readers to know I have seen innumerable board meetings run far too long, exhausting volunteers and degrading the quality of the deliberations. ...

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Reader Questions – Where Is the Property Line? Jan 10, 2021

Dear Kelly:

My association has taken the stand that a side fence on a zero lot line single family dwelling that is entirely on the dwelling's property is shared 50/50 with...

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Reader Questions – Management Cutbacks Jan 03, 2021

Dear Mr. Richardson: I received notice from my association that our management company resigned and that the association intends to self-manage.  I am uncomfortable...

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'Twas the Night Before (the HOA’s) Christmas Dec 28, 2020

[Apologies to Clement Clarke Moore]

'Twas the night before Christmas, and through the HOA community
Not a complaint was heard, and there existed pure unity;
The thank-you...

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Stop The Fights Over Records Requests! Dec 21, 2020

Over the many years I have been writing this column, the clear number one ranked dispute between homeowners and their associations regards records and information access....

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Reader Questions – Requests for HOA Information Part 2 Dec 14, 2020

Kelly, I attended my first HOA meeting and I noticed that the format is slightly different from city council meetings. Board members were provided a lengthy document...

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Reader Questions – Questions about committee, board disclosures (Part 1) Dec 07, 2020

Are homeowners allowed to read or copy committee minutes? Our manager says no because they are not “standing committees” like the architectural committee. I...

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Reader Questions – Assessment Payment Nov 30, 2020

Dear Kelly: Recently our board stopped dues collection for 6 months because they said some homeowners were experiencing financial hardship.  The board has no plans to...

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Complying With AB3182 is ManageableComplying With AB3182 is Manageable Nov 23, 2020

This year in Sacramento only one major HOA bill, Assembly Bill 3182, passed to become law effective January 1, 2021. The bill creates a new Civil Code Section 4741 banning...

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Embrace Open Forum! Nov 16, 2020

Many HOA boards treat open forum as something to be endured, but if handled properly it can be a very positive feature of HOA meetings.

The law requires that all membership...

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Reader Questions – HOA Elections – Related Inspection Firm, Candidacy Statement Limits, and Campaign Flyers Nov 08, 2020

Dear Mr. Richardson:

According to SB323 management is not allowed to participate in elections. But our management found a loophole – a spouse of one of the owners of...

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